Method for making pull-on disposable wearing article

ABSTRACT

In a method for continuously making pull-on disposable wearing, a web is fed in a machine direction. The web is formed with first fastener elements on both sides of a region defining a cut line extending in a cross direction. Second fastener elements on a fastener base sheet are engaged with the respective first fastener elements, and a region between these first fastener elements is cut away from the web. Then, the web is folded in two and a side edge of the web is bonded to the fastener base sheet. Thereafter, the web is successively cut along the cut lines to separate the web into segments each of which is a pull-on wearing article having front and rear waist regions adapted to be detachably connected with each other by the first and second fastener elements.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is based on, and claims priority from, JapaneseApplication Number 2004-251952, filed Aug. 31, 2004 and JapaneseApplication Number 2005-202431, filed Jul. 12, 2005, the disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method for making pull-on disposable wearingarticles provided with fastener means.

Pull-on wearing articles, including pull-on disposable diapers by way ofexample, have already been proposed wherein transversely opposite sideedges of the front waist region are connected with those of the rearwaist region by releasable and reusable fastener means. For example, WO01/87209 A1 (REFERENCE) discloses disposable training pants 500 and amethod for making the same as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11accompanying the specification of this patent application. In the pants500, each side edge of the front waist region 522 is provided on itsinner surface with first fastening means 582 while each side edge of therear waist region 524 is provided on its outer surface with secondfastening means 584 adapted to cooperate with the first fastening means582. The first fastening means 582 may comprise, for example, ahook-type fastener and the second fastening means 584 may comprise, forexample, a loop-type fastener. In the process illustrated in FIG. 11, acontinuous chassis web 532 contouring the pants 500 runs from the lefttoward the right as viewed in FIG. 11. The front waist region 522 hasfront waist elastic members 554 attached to its inner surface and therear waist region 524 has rear elastic members attached to its innersurface. On both sides of a boundary line 592 extending between eachpair of the adjacent pants 500, the first fastening means 582 arerespectively attached and then, between these adjacent first fasteningmeans 582, 582, the chassis web 532 is partially cut away to define agap 579. On the inner surface of the front waist region 522, the secondfastening means 584 is releasable attached to each pair of the adjacentfirst fastening means 582, 582 so as to extend across the gap 579.Though not illustrated, after the chassis web 532 has been folded backwith the inner surface thereof inside, the inner surface of the rearwaist region 524 is bonded to the second fastening means 584. Then, thechassis web 532 is cut along the boundary lines 592 to obtain individualpants 500 shown in FIG. 10.

Referring to FIG. 11, the continuous chassis web 532 runs on an endlessbelt from the left toward the right. While the chassis web 532 is heldin close contact with the endless belt under a vacuum suction pressure,there is a possibility that the respective front waist regions 522 linedup in a machine direction successively with interposition of the gaps579 might be affected by a tensile force serving to drive rightward. Itis likely therefore that the respective front waist regions 522 might bemisaligned or distorted on the endless belt. Consequentially, there isan anxiety that the front waist regions 522 of the individual pants 500continuously output through this process might have random shapes.Compared to the case in which the chassis web 532 is still not providedwith the front waist elastic members 554, the chassis web 532 havingalready been provided with the front waist region elastic members 554will be more likely to suffer from this problem because of a contractileforce of these elastic members 554 exerted on the chassis web 532.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the problem encountered by the method for making the pull-ondisposable wearing articles such as the training pants disclosed inREFERENCE wherein the transversely opposite side edges of the frontwaist region are connected with those of the rear waist region by thefastener means, it is an object of this invention to improve such methodfor making the wearing article so that the individual wearing articlescontinuously output may reliably have uniform shapes even if the web ispartially cut away to form gaps as the continuous web is fed in onedirection.

To achieve the object set forth above, the first aspect of the inventionrelates to a method for continuously making a plurality of pull-ondisposable wearing articles comprising the steps of feeding a webdefined by inner and outer surfaces and first and second side edgesextending in parallel to each other in a machine direction in themachine direction, folding the web in two along a cross direction beingorthogonal to the machine direction in the course of feeding the web sothat the first and second side edges fall into line, then severing theweb along cut lines extending in the cross direction to form segments ofthe web each having a given dimension in the machine direction, andreleasably bonding two layers defined by each of the web segments foldedin two in vicinity of transversely opposite side edges of the respectivelayers extending in parallel to the cut lines in the cross direction bymeans of fastener means to obtain a plurality of the pull-on disposablewearing articles each having a waist-hole and a pair of leg-holes sothat these pull-on disposable wearing articles are successively arrangedside by side in the machine direction.

The method for making such wearing articles according to the firstaspect of this invention further comprises the steps as follows:

a. attaching a pair of first fastener means on an outer surface of theweb adjacent to the first side edge as viewed in the cross direction andon both sides, as viewed in the machine direction, of a region in whichthe cut line is to be formed;

b. forming the web between the region in which the cut line is to beformed and the respective first fastener means with a pair ofrectilinear slits extending in the cross direction beyond opposite endsof the first fastener means as viewed in the cross direction and opposedto each other about the region in which the cut line is to be formed;

c. attaching a fastener's base sheet piece having a pair of secondfastener means extending in the machine direction across a pair of therectilinear slits, respectively, and adapted to be releasably engagedwith the first fastener means formed on the both sides of the region tothe web through engagement of the respective second fastener means withrespective the first fastener means;

d. forming the web in vicinity of the ends of the respective firstfastener means with notches intersecting a pair of the rectilinearslits, respectively;

e. folding the web in two along the cross direction with the innersurface inside so that the first side edge and the second side edge fallinto line while a region of the web surrounded at least by a pair of therectilinear slits and the notches is cut away or retained;

f. bonding, between the region in which the cut line is to be formed anda pair of the rectilinear slits, respectively, a region of the webhaving been folded in two located aside toward the second side edge tothe fastener's base sheet piece directly or indirectly through theintermediary of the surrounded region having been retained in the stepe; and

g. severing, after the step f, the web together with the fastener's basesheet pieces along the region in which the cut line is to be formed.

According to one preferred embodiment (1) of the invention based on thefirst aspect of the invention, the method includes a step of attaching abodily fluid absorbent member comprising an assembly of bodily fluidabsorbent materials and a liquid-pervious sheet at least partiallycovering a surface of the assembly to the inner surface of the web.

According to another preferred embodiment (2) of the invention based onthe first aspect of the invention, prior to formation of therectilinear-slits, elastic members extending in the machine directionare attached in stretched state to the web in vicinity of the first sideedge.

To achieve the object set forth above, the second aspect of theinvention relates to a method for continuously making a plurality ofpull-on disposable wearing articles comprising the steps of feeding aweb defined by inner and outer surfaces and first and second side edgesextending in parallel to each other in a machine direction in themachine direction, folding the web in two along a cross direction beingorthogonal to the machine direction in the course of feeding the web sothat the first and second side edges fall into line, then severing theweb along cut lines extending in the cross direction to form segments ofthe web each having a given dimension in the machine direction, andreleasably bonding two layers defined by each of the web segments foldedin two in vicinity of transversely opposite side edges of the respectivelayers extending in parallel to the cut lines in the cross direction bymeans of fastener means to obtain a plurality of the pull-on disposablewearing articles each having a waist-hole and a pair of leg-holes sothat these pull-on disposable wearing articles are successively arrangedside by side in the machine direction.

The method for making such wearing articles according to the secondaspect of the invention further comprises the steps as follows:

a. attaching a pair of first fastener means on an outer surface of theweb adjacent to the first side edge as viewed in the cross direction andon both sides, as viewed in the machine direction, of a region in whichthe cut line is to be formed;

b. forming the web between the region in which the cut line is to beformed and the respective first fastener means with a pair ofrectilinear slits extending in the cross direction beyond opposite endsof the first fastener means as viewed in the cross direction and opposedto each other about the cut line;

c. attaching a fastener's base sheet piece having a pair of secondfastener means extending in the machine direction across a pair of therectilinear slits, respectively, and adapted to be releasably engagedwith the first fastener means formed on the both sides of the region tothe web through engagement of respective the second fastener means withthe respective first fastener means;

d. forming the web with an annular notch bisected in the machinedirection by the region in which the cut line is to be formed andintersects respective the rectilinear slits on the both sides invicinity of the second side edge and cutting a region extending insidethe annular notch away from the web;

e. forming the web with substantially arc notches on the both sideswherein each of the arc notches has its bottom intersecting therectilinear slits at ends thereof in the vicinity of the first side edgeand its tops extending to the first side edge;

f. folding the web in two along the cross direction with the innersurface inside so that the first side edge and the second side edge fallinto line while a region of the web surrounded by the first side edge, apair of the rectilinear slits formed on both sides of the region inwhich the cut line is to be formed, the annular notch and the arcnotches intersecting the respective rectilinear slits is cut away orretained;

g. bonding, between the region in which the cut line is to be formed anda pair of the rectilinear slits, respectively, a region of the webhaving been folded in two located aside toward the second side edge tothe fastener's base sheet piece directly or indirectly through theintermediary of the surrounded region having been retained in the stepf; and

h. severing, after the step f, the web together with the fastener's basesheet pieces along the region in which the cut line is to be formed.

According to one preferred embodiment (3) of the second aspect of theinvention, the method includes a step of attaching a bodily fluidabsorbent member comprising an assembly of bodily fluid absorbentmaterials and a liquid-pervious sheet at least partially covering asurface of the assembly to the inner surface of the web.

According to another preferred embodiment (4) of the second aspect ofthe invention, prior to formation of the rectilinear slits, elasticmembers extending in the machine direction are attached in stretchedstate to the web in vicinity of the first side edge.

According to still another preferred embodiment (5) of the second aspectof the invention, prior to formation of the annular notch, elasticmembers are attached in stretched state to the web along a region inwhich the annular notch is to be formed.

To achieve the object set forth above, the third aspect of the inventionrelates to a method for continuously making a plurality of pull-ondisposable wearing articles comprising the steps of feeding a webdefined by inner and outer surfaces and first and second side edgesextending in parallel to each other in a machine direction in themachine direction, folding the web in two along a cross direction beingorthogonal to the machine direction in the course of feeding the web sothat the first and second side edges may fall into line, then severingthe web along cut lines extending in the cross direction to formsegments of the web each having a given dimension in the machinedirection, and releasably bonding two layers defined by each of the websegments folded in two in the vicinity of transversely opposite sideedges of the respective layers extending in parallel to the cut lines inthe cross direction by means of fastener means to obtain a plurality ofthe pull-on disposable wearing articles each having a waist-hole and apair of leg-holes so that these pull-on disposable wearing articles aresuccessively arranged side by side in the machine direction.

The method for making such wearing articles according to the thirdaspect of this invention further comprises the steps as follows:

a. forming the web being fed in the machine direction with an annularnotch bisected in the machine direction by a region in which the cutline is to be formed and cutting a region extending inside the annularnotch away from the web;

b. attaching a pair of first fastener means on an outer surface of theweb adjacent to the first side edge as viewed in the cross direction andon both sides, as viewed in the machine direction, of a region in whichthe cut line is to be formed;

c. forming the web between the region in which the cut line is to beformed and the respective first fastener means with a pair ofrectilinear slits extending in the cross direction beyond opposite endsof the first fastener means as viewed in the cross direction but notextending to the first side edge as well as to the annular notch andopposed to each other about the region in which the cut line is to beformed;

d. attaching a fastener's base sheet piece having a pair of secondfastener means extending in the machine direction across a pair of therectilinear slits, respectively, and adapted to be releasably engagedwith the first fastener means formed on the both sides of the region tothe web through engagement of respective the second fastener means withrespective the first fastener means;

e. forming the web on the both sides of the region in which the cut lineis to be formed with, in addition to first substantially arc notches onthe both sides each having a bottom intersecting the rectilinear slitsat ends thereof in the vicinity of the first side edge and its topsextending to the first side edge, second substantially arc notchesdefined by an inverted shape of the first substantially arc notches,each having a bottom intersecting the rectilinear slits at ends thereofin vicinity of the second side edge and extending to the annular notch;

f. folding the web with the inner surface inside so that the first sideedge and the second side edge fall into line while a region of the websurrounded by a pair of the rectilinear slits formed on the both sidesof the region in which the cut line is to be formed, the annular notch,the first arc notches and the second arc notch is cut away or retained;

g. bonding, between the region in which the cut line is to be formed anda pair of the rectilinear slits, respectively, a region of the webhaving been folded in two located aside toward the second side edge tothe fastener's base sheet piece directly or indirectly through theintermediary of the surrounded region having been retained in the stepf; and

h. severing, after the step g, the web together with the fastener's basesheet pieces along the region in which the cut line is to be formed.

According to one preferred embodiment (6) of the third aspect of theinvention, the method includes a step of attaching a bodily fluidabsorbent member comprising an assembly of bodily fluid absorbentmaterials and a liquid-pervious sheet at least partially covering asurface of the assembly to the inner surface of the web.

According to another preferred embodiment (7) of the third aspect of theinvention, prior to formation of the rectilinear slits, elastic membersextending in the machine direction are attached in stretched state tothe web in vicinity of the first side edge.

According to still another preferred embodiment (8) of the third aspectof the invention, prior to formation of the annular notch, elasticmembers are attached in stretched state to the web along a region inwhich the annular notch is to be formed.

According to the invention defined by the first aspect of the invention,in the step preceding the step of cutting the region surrounded at leastby a pair of the rectilinear slits and the notches intersecting a pairof the rectilinear slits away from the web being running in the machinedirection, the second fastener means supported on the fastener's basesheet pieces are engaged with the respective first fastener means toattach these fastener's base sheet pieces to the web. In this way, theregion of the web extending along the first side edge is free from anysignificant distortion and there is no apprehension that the shapes ofthe continuously output wearing articles might become random even if theweb having the surrounded regions cut away is fed under a tensile forcein the machine direction.

According to the invention defined by the second aspect of the inventionalso, in the step preceding the step of cutting the region surrounded bythe first side edge of the web, the respective rectilinear slits, theannular notch and the respective arc notches away from the web beingrunning in the machine direction, the second fastener means supported onthe fastener's base sheet pieces are engaged with the respective firstfastener means to attach these fastener's base sheet pieces to the web.In this way, the region of the web extending along the first side edgeis free from any significant distortion and there is no apprehensionthat the shapes of the continuously output wearing articles might becomerandom even if the web having the surrounded regions cut away is fedunder a tensile force in the machine direction.

According to the invention defined by the third aspect of the inventionalso, in the step preceding the step of cutting the region surrounded bythe first side edge of the web, the rectilinear slits, the annularnotch, the respective first arc notches and the respective second arcnotches away from the web being running in the machine direction, thesecond fastener means supported on the fastener's base sheet pieces areengaged with are engaged with the respective first fastener means toattach these fastener's base sheet pieces to the web. the region of theweb extending along the first side edge is free from any significantdistortion and there is no anxiety that the shapes of the continuouslyoutput wearing articles might become random even if the web having thesurrounded regions cut away is fed under a tensile force in the machinedirection.

According to the respective preferred embodiments of the first, secondand third aspects of the invention, respectively, the wearing article ofeach aspect of the invention may be provided with bodily fluid absorbentpanels, respectively.

According to the respective preferred embodiments (2), (4), (7) of thefirst, second and third aspects of the invention, the elastic membersextending in the machine direction may be attached in stretched state tothe web in the vicinity of the first side edge so that these elasticmembers may serve as the waist elastic members for the wearing articles.

According to the respective preferred embodiments (5), (8) of the secondand third aspects of the invention, the elastic members are attached instretched state to the web destined to form the wearing article alongthe annular notch so that these elastic members may serve as the legelastic members for the wearing articles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pull-on diaper;

FIG. 2 is a developed view showing the pull-on diaper as partiallybroken away;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagram partially illustrating a process according to thisinvention for continuously making the pull-on diaper;

FIG. 7 is a diagram similar to FIG. 6, illustrating one preferredembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram similar to FIG. 6, illustrating another preferredembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram similar to FIG. 6, illustrating still anotherpreferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of the pull-on wearingarticle of prior art; and

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the process for making the wearingarticle shown in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Details of a method according to this invention for making a pull-ondisposable wearing article will be more fully understood from thedescription given hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A pull-on disposable diaper 1 shown in FIG. 1 in a perspective view isthe diaper made by a method according to this invention, comprising abody cover 2 and a bodily fluid absorbent panel 3. The body cover 2 hasa crotch region 8, a front waist region 6 extending forward from thecrotch region 8 and a rear waist region 7 extending rearward from thecrotch region 8. These regions 6, 7, 8 are defined by an outer sheet 5facing the wearer's garment (not shown) and an inner sheet 4 laid insidethe outer sheet 5 and facing the wearer's skin (not shown). In thevicinity of transversely opposite side edges 12, flaps 9 formed fromsheets provided separately of the inner and outer sheets 4, 5 are bondedto the rear waist region 7 at a plurality of spots 13 arrangedintermittently in a vertical direction as viewed in FIG. 1 by use ofadhesive or welding technique. Each of the flaps 9 is provided on itsinner surface with a loop member 16 constituting a part of a mechanicalfastener commercially referred to as MAGIC TAPE attached thereto by useof adhesive or welding technique. In the vicinity of the transverselyopposite side edges 11, the front waist region 6 is provided with hookmembers 17 constituting a counterpart of the mechanical fastenerattached thereto by use of adhesive or welding technique. The loopmember 16 and the hook member 17 are overlapped together in mutualengagement and thereby the front and rear waist regions 6, 7 aredetachably connected with each other in the vicinity of the transverselyopposite side edges 11, 12 of the respective waist regions 6, 7. Forbetter understanding of this arrangement, the front and rear waistregions 6, 7 are illustrated to be not connected with each other at theleft hand of FIG. 1 and to be connected with each other at the righthand of FIG. 1. When these front and rear waist regions 6, 7 areconnected with each other at both the left hand and the right hand ofFIG. 1, the diaper 1 is formed with a waist-hole 18 and a pair ofleg-holes 19. The waist-hole 18 is provided with waist elastic members20 extending in a circumferential direction of the waist-hole 18 andeach of the leg-holes 19 is provided with a leg elastic member 19 a in acircumferential direction of this leg-hole 19. The body cover 2illustrated herein is formed with a plurality of gathers 66, 67undulating in the respective circumferential direction as these elasticmembers 20, 19 a contract.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the diaper 1 of FIG. 1 with the front andrear waist regions 6, 7 as well as the crotch region 8 having beenflattened, partially broken away. In FIG. 2, the front and rear waistregions 6, 7 are in disconnected states, the leg elastic members 19 a aswell as the waist elastic members 20 are in stretched states andtherefore the gathers 66, 67 in FIG. 1 disappear. The diaper 1 has atransverse direction indicated by a double-headed arrow X, aback-and-forth direction indicated by a double-headed arrow Y which isorthogonal to the direction indicated by the double-headed arrow X. Thetransverse direction X corresponds to the circumferential direction ofthe diaper 1. In the body cover 2, a dimension between the transverselyopposite side edges 11, 11 of the front waist region 6 is slightlysmaller than a dimension between the transversely opposite side edges12, 12 (See FIG. 1) and a difference between these two dimensions issubstantially same as a dimension W over which each of the flaps 9 isattached to the rear waist region 7. The front waist region 6 as well asthe rear waist region 7 have front and rear ends 26, 27 extending in thetransverse direction X and the crotch region 8 has transversely oppositeside edges 28 bowing so as to be convex inwardly of the body cover 2.The waist elastic members 20 comprise at least one first elastic member21 a and at least one first elastic member 21 b which are provided inthe vicinity of the front end 26 and the rear end 27 and extendingbetween the transversely opposite side edges 11, 11 and between thetransversely opposite side edges 12, 12 in stretched states,respectively. The waist elastic members 20 further comprise at least onesecond elastic member 22 a and at least one second elastic member 22 blying below the first elastic members 21 a, 21 b and above the crotchregion 8 as viewed in FIG. 1. The second elastic member 22 a extends instretched state between the transversely opposite side edges 11, 11 andthe second elastic member 22 b extends in stretched state between thetransversely opposite side edges 12, 12. Preferably, the first elasticmembers 21 a, 21 b are adapted to be pressed against the wearer's waistmore tightly than the second elastic members 22 a, 22 b and, to achievethis, the first elastic members 21 a, 21 b exhibiting a tensile stresshigher than that exhibited by the second elastic members 22 a, 22 b maybe used as the respective first elastic members 21 a, 21 b. The bodycover 2 is further provided along transversely opposite side edges 28 ofthe crotch region 8 with the leg elastic members 19 a attached theretoin stretched state.

As will be seen in FIG. 2, the bodily fluid absorbent panel 3 comprisesa liquid-pervious top sheet 32, a liquid-impervious back sheet 33 and abodily fluid absorbent core 34 interposed between these two sheets 32,33. The top- and back sheets 32, 33 extend outward beyond a peripheraledge of the core 34 and these outer extensions are put flat and bondedtogether by use of adhesive or a welding technique. Such bodily fluidabsorbent panel 3 is provided along its transversely opposite side edgeswith leak-barrier cuffs 36 preferably comprising liquid-impervioussheets, respectively. Each of these leak-barrier cuffs 36 has front andrear ends 37, 38 and an outer lateral section 39 bonded to the top sheet32 and an inner lateral section 41 left free from the top sheet 32. Thisinner lateral section 41 is provided with an elastic member 42 extendingin the back-and-forth direction Y and attached thereto in stretchedstate. These leak-barrier cuffs 36 form pockets 43 adapted to receivebodily fluids flowing in the transverse direction X. In the bodily fluidabsorbent panel 3, the back sheet 33 is bonded to the inner sheet 4 ofthe body cover 2 by means of hot melt adhesive (not shown).

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2. Thebody cover 2 is bonded to the flaps 9 in the vicinity of the side edges12 of the rear waist region 7 at the spots 13 along respective marginalzones having the width W. In the vicinity of the side edges 12, thefirst and second elastic members 21 b, 22 b are intermittently bonded tothe inner and outer sheets 4, 5, respectively, by means of hot meltadhesive (not shown) and extend to the spots 13. For simplification,FIG. 3 shows the second elastic member 22 b alone. The flaps 9 arefirmly bonded to the rear waist region 7 in the vicinity of the sideedges 12 thereof so that these flaps 9 should not be peeled off from therear waist region 7 even when these flaps 9 are pulled in the transversedirection X. The flaps 9 are provided on respective inner surfacesthereof with base sheets 47 bonded thereto and these base sheets 47 areformed on respective inner surfaces with a plurality of loops 45.

In such diaper 1, the inner and outer sheets 4, 5 may be made ofnonwoven fabric or plastic film. The top sheet 32 of the bodily fluidabsorbent panel 3 may be formed from nonwoven fabric or perforatedplastic film and the back sheet 33 may be formed by plastic film. Forthe core 34, fluff pulp and super-absorbent polymer particles.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2 and FIG.5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 2. In thevicinity of the side edges 11 of the front waist region 6, the bodycover 2 is provided with the hook members 17 each comprising a basesheet 48 and a plurality of hooks 49 rising on the base sheet 48 whereineach of the base sheets 48 is bonded to the outer surface of the outersheet 5. Referring to FIG. 4, the inner sheet 4, the outer sheet 5 andthe second elastic member 22 a are bonded together intermittently in alongitudinal direction of the second elastic member 22 a by means of hotholt adhesive 51. Referring to FIG. 5, the outer sheet 5 is bonded tothe first elastic member 21 a, the leg elastic members 19 a and theinner sheet 4 intermittently in the back-and-forth direction Y by meansof hot melt adhesive 51.

FIG. 6 is a diagram partially illustrating a process for making thediaper 1 of FIG. 1, wherein a machine direction and a cross directionwhich is orthogonal to the machine direction are indicated by MD and CD,respectively, and the process is illustrated partially in an enlargedscale. In step I, a first continuous sheet 101 runs in the machinedirection MD. The first continuous sheet 101 has first and second sideedges 101 a, 101 b extending in parallel to each other in the machinedirection MD, an inner surface 101 c appearing in FIG. 6 and an outersurface 101 d opposite thereto. The first continuous sheet 101 includesa plurality of thread-like first elastic members 105 attached instretched state to the inner surface 101 c in the vicinity of the firstand second side edges 101 a, 101 b. The first continuous sheet 101 isfurther provided in an intermediate section defined between the firstand second side edges 101 a, 101 b with a plurality of thread-likesecond elastic members 106 attached in stretched state thereto so as todefine an annulus 151. The first continuous sheet 101 is intermittentlyformed with a plurality of the thread-like second elastic members 106 atregular intervals in the machine direction MD.

In step II, a second continuous sheet 102 with a substantially samewidth as that of the first continuous sheet 101, first and second sideedges 102 a, 102 b, an inner surface 102 c and an outer surface 102 dopposite to the inner surface 102 c is continuously fed with the innersurface 102 c facing upward in the machine direction MD and the outersurface 102 d is bonded to the inner surface 101 c of the firstcontinuous sheet 101 to form first composite sheet 103. The outersurface 102 d and the inner surface 101 c are preferably bonded to eachother intermittently both in the machine direction MD and in the crossdirection CD. The first composite sheet 103 has first side edge 103 aalong which the first side edge 101 a of the first continuous sheet 101is placed on the first side edge 102 a of the second continuous sheet102 substantially in alignment with each other and second side edge 103b along which the second side edge 101 b of the first continuous sheet101 is placed on the second side edge 102 b of the second continuoussheet 102 substantially in alignment with each other. Imaginary lines111 extending across the first continuous sheet 101 in step I and acrossthe first composite sheet 103 in the subsequent steps correspond tofirst center lines bisecting the respective annuli 151 in the machinedirection MD and imaginary lines 112 correspond to second center linesbisecting a dimension defined between each pair of the adjacent annuli151, 151 in the machine direction MD. The first center line 111corresponding also to cut line in step XI described hereinafter.

In step III, a pair of hook members 116 are attached to the outersurface 101 d of the first continuous sheet 101 constituting the firstcomposite sheet 103 in the vicinity of the first center line 111 so asto be symmetric about the first center line 111. These hook members 116are destined to become the hook members 17 in FIGS. 1 and 4, eachcomprising first base sheet 117 and hooks (not shown) rising on theouter surface (not shown) of the first base sheet 117. The first basesheet 117 has inner surface 117 a opposite to the outer surface attachedto the first continuous sheet 101.

In step IV, a bodily fluid absorbent member 120 is attached to the innersurface 102 c of the second continuous sheet 102 constituting the firstcomposite sheet 103 by means of hot melt adhesive (not shown) so that atransverse center line (not shown) and the second center line 112 mayfall into line. The bodily fluid absorbent member 120 is destined tobecome the bodily fluid absorbent panel 3 of FIG. 2 and comprises thebodily fluid absorbent cores 34 each formed by assembly of bodily fluidabsorbent materials, the liquid-pervious top sheet 32 covering at leastthe inner surface of the cores 34, the liquid-impervious back sheet 33covering the outer surface of the cores 34 and respective pairs of theleak-barrier cuffs 36.

In step V, on the first composite sheet 103 a linear slit 121 extendingin the cross direction CD through the first composite sheet 103 isformed between the first center line 111 and the hook member 116adjacent to this first center line 111. The slit 121 extends beyondopposite ends in the cross direction CD of the hook member 116 butneither to the first side edge 103 a nor the second side edge 103 b.

In step VI, each of loop members 122 is releasable attached to each pairof the adjacent hook members 116, 116 so as to extend across the firstcenter line 111 lying between these adjacent hook members 116, 116. Theloop member 122 comprises a base sheet 123 and a pair of loop arrays 124formed on the inner surface 123 a of the base sheet 123. Each pair ofthe loop arrays 124 are spaced apart from each other in the machinedirection MD by a substantially same distance as a distance by which thepair of the hook members 116 adapted to be anchored on theabove-mentioned pair of the loop arrays 124. Each of the loop arrays 124has dimensions as measured in the machine direction MD and in the crossdirection CD are substantially same as or slightly larger thandimensions of the hook member 116 as measured in the machine directionMD and in the cross direction CD. The base sheet 123 is formed from asheet piece made of nonwoven fabric or plastic film having sufficientdimensions as measured in the machine direction MD and in the crossdirection CD.

In step VII, the first composite sheet 103 is formed with substantiallyarc notches 133 in the vicinity of the first side edge 103 a. Each ofthese arc notches 133 is described by the notch 133 having top endswhich intersect the first side edge 103 a and a bottom which intersectsends of the slit 121 put aside toward the first side edge 103 a. Byforming these notches 133, the arc notch pieces 134 are removed from thefirst composite sheet 103. Details of these notches 133 and arc notchpieces 134 will be more fully understood from a scale-enlarged diagramshowing a circled part of the first composite sheet 103. In the diaper 1shown by FIGS. 1 and 2, these notches 133 appear in the flaps 9.

In step VIII, an annular notch 131 extending across the first centerline 111 and being symmetric about this first center line 111 is formed.The annular notch 131 intersects a pair of slits 121 opposed to eachother symmetrically about the first center line 111 at respective endsof these two slits 121 put aside toward the second side edge 103 b. Aregion surrounded by the annular notch 131 is cut away as a disc formsheet piece 132 and a region surrounded by the first side edge 103 a, apair of the slits 121, the annular notch 131 and a pair of the arc notch133 is cut away as a sheet piece 136 to form a gap 137 on the firstcomposite sheet 103. It should be noted here that the base sheet 123 forthe loop member 122 having previously been attached to the firstcomposite sheet 103 is exposed in this gap 137.

In step IX, the first composite sheet 103 is folded in two along a thirdcenter line 141 bisecting the width of the first composite sheet 103with the second continuous sheet 102 lying inside and with the first andsecond side edges 103 a, 103 b placed upon each other.

In step X, the second continuous sheet 102 faces the base sheet 123 ofthe loop member 122 in the gap 137 so that first and second bondingregions 142, 143 extending in the cross direction CD may be formed onboth sides of the first center line 111 as viewed in the machinedirection MD. In these bonding regions 142, 143, the second continuoussheet 102 is bonded to the base sheet 123 to form a second compositesheet 144. In the second composite sheet 144, the first bonding region142 and the second bonding region 143 are identical to each other so faras the construction is concerned but the first bonding region 142 isformed ahead of the first center line 111 and the second bonding region143 is formed behind this first center line 111 as viewed in the machinedirection MD. In the diagram, these first and second bonding regions142, 143 are respectively illustrated as aggregates of a plurality ofthe bonding spots 13 (See FIG. 1) arranged intermittently in the crossdirection CD.

In step XI, the second composite sheet 144 is severed together with therespective base sheets 123 along cut lines defined by the respectivefirst center lines 111 successively in the machine direction MD toobtain individual pull-on diapers 1.

Each of the diapers 1 obtained in the step XI is same as the diaper 1 ofFIG. 1. More specifically, the first and second continuous sheets 101,102 are severed into the sheet pieces respectively defining the outersheet 5 and the inner sheet 4 of the diaper 1 of FIG. 1. The bodilyfluid absorbent member 120 defines the bodily fluid absorbent panel 3.The section of the first composite sheet 103 lying above the thirdcenter line 141 in the steps VIII, IX and the subsequent steps definesthe front waist region 6 and a part of the crotch region 8 while thesection of the first composite sheet 103 lying below the third centerline 141 in these steps defines the rear waist region 7 and theremaining part of the crotch region 8. The hook member 116 defines thehook member 17 of the diaper 1 shown in FIG. 1, the base sheet 123 ofthe loop member 122 is severed along the first center line 111 to definethe flaps 9 on both sides of this first center line 111 and each of theloop arrays 124 defines the loop member 16. The flaps 9 are attached tothe rear waist region 7 at the bonding spots 13 of the first and secondbonding regions 142, 143. The slits 121 of the first composite sheet 103defines the side edges 11 of the front waist region 6 in FIG. 1 and thesecond composite sheet 144 is severed along the first center lines 111to form the side edges 12 in FIG. 1. The front waist region 6 and therear waist region 7 are detachably connected with each other by means ofthe flaps 9 in the vicinity of the side edges 11 and in the vicinity ofthe side edges 12. The annular notch 131 formed on the first compositesheet 103 defines the side edges 28 of the crotch region 8. A pluralityof the first elastic members 105 define the elastic members 21 a, 21 band 22 a, 22 b but it should be noted that the number of these elasticmembers 105 as well as the spacing of these elastic members 105 in thecross direction CD are not specified. The second elastic members 106define the leg elastic members 19 a but it should be noted that thenumber of these elastic members 106 as well as the shape of the annulus51 are not specified. While FIG. 1 shows the diaper 1 with one of theflags 9 bonded to the front waist region 6 and the other not bonded tothe front waist region 6, FIG. 6 illustrates the both flaps 9 bonded tothe front waist region 6.

In the step illustrated in FIG. 6, the first composite sheet 103 runningin the machine direction MD is subjected to a tensile force functioningto drive the sheet 103 in the machine direction MD. While the gap 137extending from the first side edge 103 a to the annular notch 131 isformed on the first composite sheet 103, in the step VIII, the basesheet 123 of the loop member 122 has been previously attached on thefirst composite sheet 103 in such a manner that the base sheet 123extends in the machine direction MD so as to extend across the gap 137.The tensile force functioning to drive this first composite sheet 103 inthe machine direction MD is not substantially affected by the presenceof the gap 137. Specifically, the tensile force can evenly exert on thefirst composite sheet 103 along the first side edge 103 a also behindeach of the gaps 137 (toward the right hand as viewed in FIG. 6). Inaddition, the presence of the base sheet 123 attached to the firstcomposite sheet 103 so as to extend across the gap 137 serves torestrain contraction of the elastic members 105. Consequentially, thefirst composite sheet 103 is evenly subjected to the tensile force alongthe first and second side edges 103 a, 103 b without an anxiety that thefront and rear waist regions 6, 7 of the individual diaper 1 might haverespective resultant shapes distorted. Also between each pair of theadjacent individual diapers 1 made in the continuous fashion, it is notapprehended that these waist regions 6, 7 might have random shapes. Inthe step illustrated in FIG. 6, it is possible to employ well-knownconveyer means such as endless belts and nip rolls to run the first andsecond continuous sheets 101, 102 and the first and second compositesheets 103, 104 in the machine direction MD. It should be noted thatwhen forming the slit 121 into the first composite sheet 103 running instep V, a cutter is disposed with respect to one of upper and lowersurfaces of the first composite sheet 103 while an anvil is disposedwith respect to the other and thereby movement of the cutter and theanvil in the machine direction MD is synchronized with a running speedof the first composite sheet 103. It is preferable that the anvil iscovered by an antislip material such as “TESA TAPE 4863 or 4563”(Trademark) or a suction apparatus is provided so as to function on theweb and the antislip material or the suction apparatus prevents thefirst composite sheet 103 from slipping against a surface of the anvilwhen the cutter acts on the first composite sheet 103. The surface ofthe anvil may be treated with a suitable agent having a high antislipeffect instead of the foregoing antislip material.

In the step illustrated in FIG. 6, the sub-step of forming the arc notch133 and the sub-step of forming the annular notch 131 may besequentially inversed. It is possible to attach the bodily fluidabsorbent member 120 to the first composite sheet 103 in any step otherthan the step IV. The sheet piece 136 having been described above to becut away from the first composite sheet 103 in the step VIII may bepreviously bonded to the base sheet 123, for example, by means ofadhesive and thereby be left in the gap 137 without cutting away fromthe first composite sheet 103. By means of this sheet piece 136 left inthe gap 137, the second continuous sheet 102 and the base sheet 123 maybe indirectly bonded to each other in the step X.

FIG. 7 is a diagram similar to FIG. 6, partially illustrating theprocess according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.According to this embodiment, the first continuous sheet 101 and thesecond continuous sheet 102 are bonded to each other in the step II toform the first composite sheet 103. In the step III, the annular notch131 which is symmetric about the first center line 111 and the annularsheet piece 132 is cut away from the first composite sheet 103.

In step IV, the hook members 116 are attached to the first compositesheet 103 in the same manner as in the step III illustrated in FIG. 6.

In step V, the bodily fluid absorbent member 120 illustrated partiallybroken away is attached to the first composite sheet 103 so that atransverse center line and the second center line 112 may fall into linein the same manner as in the step IV illustrated in FIG. 6.

In step VI, the slits 121 are formed on both sides of the first centerline 111 in the same manner as in the step V illustrated in FIG. 6. Theslit 121 extends beyond opposite ends in the cross direction CD of thehook member 116 but neither to the first side edge 103 a nor the annularnotch 131 of the first composite sheet 103.

In step VII, a pair of the loop arrays 124 of the loop member 122 arereleasable engaged with the respective hook members 116 lying on bothsides of the first center line 111, respectively in the same manner asin the step VI illustrated in FIG. 6.

In step VIII, first arc notches 133 are formed in the same manner as inthe step VII illustrated in FIG. 6. Specifically, these first arcnotches 133 are defined by substantially intersecting the first sideedge 103 a and intersecting also the ends of the slits 121 in thevicinity of the first side edge 103 a. In addition to these first arcnotch 133, second arc notch 135 are formed in the step VIII. Each of thesecond arc notch 135 is defined by an inverted shape of the first arcnotch 133 wherein a bottom of the second arc notch 135 intersects theends of the slits 121 in the vicinity of the second side edge 103 b andtops of arc intersect the annular arc notch 131. Arc notch pieces 134 a,arc notch pieces 134 b are cut away from the first composite sheet 103and a region surrounded by the first side edge 103 a, a pair of theslits 121, the annular notch 131, a pair of arc notch 133 and a pair ofthe second arc notch 135 is cut away as a notch piece 136. By removal ofthe notch piece 136, the first composite sheet 103 formed with the gap137 extending from the first side edge 103 a to the annular notch 131.It should be noted that the base sheet 123 of the hook member 116 isexposed in the gap 137. Details of this gap 137 and the other componentswill be more fully understood from a scale-enlarged diagram showing acircled part of the first composite sheet 103.

In step IX, the first composite sheet 103 is folded in two along a thirdcenter line 141 bisecting the width of the first composite sheet 103with the second continuous sheet 102 lying inside and with the first andsecond side edges 103 a, 103 b placed upon each other in the same manneras in the step IX illustrated in FIG. 6.

In step X, in the same manner as in the step X illustrated in FIG. 6,the second continuous sheet 102 faces the base sheet 123 of the loopmember 122 in the gap 137 so that first and second bonding regions 142,143 extending in the cross direction CD may be formed on both sides ofthe first center line 111 as viewed in the machine direction MD. Inthese bonding regions 142, 143, the second continuous sheet 102 isbonded to the base sheet 123 to form a second composite sheet 144.

In step XI, the second composite sheet 144 is severed together with therespective base sheets 123 along cut lines defined by the respectivefirst center lines 111 successively in the machine direction MD toobtain individual pull-on diapers 1.

The process illustrated in FIG. 7 is distinguished from the processillustrated in FIG. 6 in that the rectilinear slits 121 are formed afterthe annular notch 131 has been formed. These slits 121 extend from theinside of the first side edge 103 a in the cross direction toward butshort of the annular notch 131. A pair of the first arc notches 133 aswell as a pair of the second arc notches 135 defined by the invertedshape of the first arc notch 133 are formed on the first composite sheet103. The region surrounding by the first side edge 103 a, a pair of theslits 121, a pair of the first arc notch 133, a pair of the second arcnotch 135 and the annular notch 131 is cut away as the notch piece 136from the first composite sheet 103 so as to form the gap 137. In thestep preceding the step VIII in which the gap 137 is formed, the basesheet 123 of the loop member 122 has previously been engaged with thefirst composite sheet 103 so as to extend across the gap 137. Thetensile force functioning to drive such first composite sheet 103 in themachine direction MD is not affected by the presence of the gaps 137 andcan evenly exert on the first composite sheet 103 along the first sideedge 103 a also behind each of the gaps 137 (toward the right hand asviewed in FIG. 7). Consequentially, just like the case illustrated byFIG. 6, the first composite sheet 103 obtained by the processillustrated in FIG. 7 is evenly subjected to the tensile force along thefirst and second side edges 103 a, 103 b without an anxiety that thefront and rear waist regions 6, 7 of the individual diaper 1 might haverespective resultant shapes distorted and/or being random.

FIG. 8 is a diagram similar to FIG. 6, partially illustrating theprocess according to another preferred embodiment of this invention. Itshould be noted here that in steps III, IV of FIG. 8, the elasticmembers 105, 106 interposed between the first and second continuoussheets 101, 102 are indicated by imaginary lines. Similarly to the caseillustrated in FIG. 6, in step I of FIG. 8, the first continuous sheet101 is fed in the machine direction MD. In the vicinity of the firstside edge 101 a and the second side edge 101 b, a plurality of thecontinuous thread-like elastic members 105 are bonded to the innersurface 101 c of the first continuous sheet 101 by means of hot meltadhesive (not shown). It should be noted that the elastic members 105are left free from the first continuous sheet 101 in regions eachdefined by a width x in the vicinity of the first side edge 101 a andregions each defined by a width y in the vicinity of the second sideedge 101 b.

In step Ia provided between steps I and II in FIG. 8, the elasticmembers 105 are respectively cut along the first center line 111. As aresult, the elastic members 105 located aside toward the first side edge101 a contract in the machine direction MD and face-to-face ends of theelastic members 105 formed by cutting the elastic members 105 in thismanner are spaced one from another by the width x about the first centerline 111. The elastic members 105 located aside toward the second sideedge 101 b also contract in the machine direction MD and face-to-faceends of the elastic members 105 formed by cutting the elastic members105 in this manner are spaced one from another by the width y about thefirst center line 111.

In step II, similarly to the case illustrated in FIG. 6, the secondcontinuous sheet 102 is fed in the machine direction MD and bonded tothe first continuous sheet 101.

In step III, the hook member 116 is attached to the outer surface 101 dof the first continuous sheet 101 in a region having the width x andoccupied by none of the elastic members 105.

Steps in and after step IV illustrated in FIG. 8 are similar to thesteps in and after the step IV illustrated by FIG. 6 except that, in thestep of bonding the base sheet 123 to the first composite sheet 103,regions of the first composite sheet 103 each having the width y andoccupied by none of the elastic members 105 are bonded to the base sheet123.

The process illustrated in FIG. 8 effectively sweeps away anapprehension that the elastic members 105 might cause the firstcontinuous sheet 101 and the second continuous sheet 102 to be formedwith irregularities and thereby make it difficult to bond the hookmember 116 to the first continuous sheet 101 and to bond the base sheet123 to the second continuous sheet 102. The values of the width x andthe width y in the step I maybe appropriately selected to obtain thedesired effect. It is possible to modify the process illustrated in FIG.8 so that the elastic members 105 may be cut along the first center line111 after the first continuous sheet 101 and the second continuous sheet102 have been placed upon and bonded to each other.

FIG. 9 also is a diagram similar to FIG. 6, partially illustrating theprocess of this invention according to still another preferredembodiment. In step VII of FIG. 9 corresponding to the step VII of FIG.6, the first composite sheet 103 is formed with a single arc notch 133intersecting the first center line 111 and intersecting also a pair ofthe slits 121 opposed to each other with this first center line 111lying there between and a single arc notch piece 134 is cut away. Instep VIII of FIG. 9 corresponding to the step VIII of FIG. 6, a regionsurrounded by the single arc notch 133, the annular notch 131 and a pairof the slits 121 is cut away from the first composite sheet 103 as thesheet piece 136 and thereby the gap 137 is formed.

While the method according to this invention for continuously making thepull-on diaper as an typical example of the pull-on wearing article hasbeen described above particularly in reference with FIGS. 6 and 7wherein the web fed in the machine direction MD comprises the firstcomposite sheet 103 consisting of the first continuous sheet 101 and thesecond continuous sheet 102, this invention may be implemented in theother various manners. For example, such web may be replaced by webcomprising any one of the first continuous sheet 101 and the secondcontinuous sheet 102 or replaced by web comprising, in addition to thefirst continuous sheet 101 and the second continuous sheet 102, thirdcontinuous sheet. Furthermore, the invention maybe implemented withoutattaching the first elastic members 105 and the second elastic members106 to any one of these web component sheets. The annular notch 131illustrated to be substantially symmetric about the third center line141 in FIGS. 6 and 7 may be replaced by the annular notch 131 which isasymmetric about the third center line 141. The arrangement such thatthe loop members 16 are releasable engaged with the hook members 17attached to the front waist region 6 may be replaced by the arrangementsuch that the loop members 16 attached to the flaps extending from thefront waist region 6 toward the rear waist region 7 are releasableengaged with the hook members 17 attached to the rear waist region 7. Inother words, the upper half region of the first composite sheet 103lying above the third center line 141 in FIGS. 6 and 7 may be destinedto become either the front waist region 6 or the rear waist region 7 ofthe diaper 1. In the illustrated embodiments, the loop member 16 may bereplaced by the hook member 17 while the hook member 17 may be replacedby the loop member 16. In addition, the fastener used to connect thefront and rear waist regions 6, 7 with each other is not limited toso-called mechanical fastener consisting of the loop member 16 and thehook member 17. For example, any one of the loop member 16 and the hookmember 17 may be replaced by pressure-sensitive adhesive zones formed bycoating any one of the front and rear waist regions 6, 7 and the flaps 9and the other may be replaced by target zone(s) to which thepressure-sensitive adhesive zones are detachably anchored.

This invention having been described with respect to the pull-ondisposable diaper 1 as the typical embodiment is applicable also to theother pull-on wearing article such as incontinence pants and trainingpants. Depending on particular applications of these wearing articles,the configuration of the bodily fluid absorbent member 120 in theillustrated embodiment may be appropriately modified and even it ispossible to do without use of the bodily fluid absorbent member 120.

This invention enables the pull-on disposable wearing article to becontinuously produced without the apprehension that the front and rearwaist regions might respectively have shapes distorted and/or beingrandom in each of the individual diapers as well as between each pair ofthe adjacent individual diapers.

The entire discloses of Japanese patent Application Nos. 2004-251952 and2005-202431 filed on Aug. 31, 2004 and Jul. 12, 2005, respectively,including specification, drawings and abstract are herein incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

1. A method of continuously making pull-on disposable wearing articles,said method comprising: feeding a web in a machine direction, said webhaving opposite first and second surfaces and opposite first and secondside edges that extend in said machine direction, folding said web intwo in a cross direction orthogonal to said machine direction whilefeeding said web, and severing said folded web along cut lines, whichextend in said cross direction, into individual pull-on disposablewearing articles each having a waist-hole and a pair of leg-holes sothat these pull-on disposable wearing articles are successively arrangedside by side in said machine direction, said method further comprising:attaching a pair of first fastener elements to the first surface of saidweb on opposite sides, as viewed in said machine direction, of eachregion in which one of said cut lines is to be formed, wherein each ofsaid first fastener elements has an outer end adjacent the first sideedge and an opposite, inner end located inwardly in the cross directionfrom the outer end; forming a pair of continuous slits in said web onopposite sides, as viewed in said machine direction, of said region,wherein each of said continuous slits is located between said region andone of said first fastener elements, and extends continuously in saidcross direction from a first end located adjacent the first side edge toa second end located inwardly of the inner ends of said first fastenerelements; attaching a fastener base sheet to said web so that thefastener base sheet extends in said machine direction across said regionand said slits, wherein the fastener base sheet has thereon a pair ofsecond fastener elements each releasably engaged with one of said firstfastener elements and is attached to said web through releasableengagement of respective said second fastener elements with respectivesaid first fastener elements; forming notches in said web so that eachof the notches extends from the first side edge to the first end of oneof said slits, respectively; forming, in said web and along the cut lineto be form, a middle opening which defines the leg holes of the adjacentpull-on disposable wearing articles to be made; folding said web in twoin said cross direction with said second surface inside so that an areaof said web adjacent the second side edge overlays said region; bondingsaid area to said fastener base sheet; and after said bonding, severingsaid web together with said fastener base sheet along said cut line;wherein a peripheral edge of said middle opening intersects the slits invicinity of the second ends of the slits to define a cut-away piece ofsaid web, and said cut-away piece corresponds to said region and issurrounded by the slits, the notches at the first ends of the slits, andthe peripheral edge of said middle opening; said method furthercomprising: bonding said cut-away piece to the fastener base sheet toretain said cut-away piece; wherein said bonding comprises indirectlybonding said area to the fastener base sheet via said retained cut-awaypiece.
 2. A method of continuously making pull-on disposable wearingarticles, said method comprising: feeding a web in a machine direction,said web having opposite first and second surfaces and opposite firstand second side edges that extend in said machine direction, foldingsaid web in two in a cross direction orthogonal to said machinedirection while feeding said web, and severing said folded web along cutlines, which extend in said cross direction, into individual pull-ondisposable wearing articles each having a waist-hole and a pair ofleg-holes so that these pull-on disposable wearing articles aresuccessively arranged side by side in said machine direction, saidmethod further comprising: attaching a pair of first fastener elementsto the first surface of said web on opposite sides, as viewed in saidmachine direction, of each region in which one of said cut lines is tobe formed, wherein each of said first fastener elements has an outer endadjacent the first side edge and an opposite, inner end located inwardlyin the cross direction from the outer end; forming a pair of continuousslits in said web on opposite sides, as viewed in said machinedirection, of said region, wherein each of said continuous slits islocated between said region and one of said first fastener elements, andextends continuously in said cross direction from a first end locatedadjacent the first side edge to a second end located inwardly of theinner ends of said first fastener elements; attaching a fastener basesheet to said web so that the fastener base sheet extends in saidmachine direction across said region and said slits, wherein thefastener base sheet has thereon a pair of second fastener elements eachreleasably engaged with one of said first fastener elements and isattached to said web through releasable engagement of respective saidsecond fastener elements with respective said first fastener elements;forming, for each pair of said slits, a single notch in said web so thatthe notch extends from the first side edge to the first ends of bothsaid slits; forming, in said web and along the cut line to be form, amiddle opening which defines the leg holes of the adjacent pull-ondisposable wearing articles to be made; folding said web in two in saidcross direction with said second surface inside so that an area of saidweb adjacent the second side edge overlays said region; bonding saidarea to said fastener base sheet; and after said bonding, severing saidweb together with said fastener base sheet along said cut line; whereina peripheral edge of said middle opening intersects the slits invicinity of the second ends of the slits to define a cut-away piece ofsaid web, said cut-away piece corresponds to said region and issurrounded by the slits, the notches at the first ends of the slits, andthe peripheral edge of said middle opening, and the middle opening isbisected by the cut line; said method further comprising: bonding saidcut-away piece to the fastener base sheet to retain said cut-away piece;wherein said bonding comprises indirectly bonding said area to thefastener base sheet via said retained cut-away piece.
 3. A method ofcontinuously making pull-on disposable wearing articles, said methodcomprising: feeding a web in a machine direction, said web havingopposite first and second surfaces and opposite first and second sideedges that extend in said machine direction, folding said web in two ina cross direction orthogonal to said machine direction while feedingsaid web, and severing said folded web along cut lines, which extend insaid cross direction, into individual pull-on disposable wearingarticles each having a waist-hole and a pair of leg-holes so that thesepull-on disposable wearing articles are successively arranged side byside in said machine direction, said method further comprising: forming,in said web and along each of the cut lines to be form, a middle openingwhich defines the leg holes of the adjacent pull-on disposable wearingarticles to be made and which is bisected by the cut line; attaching apair of first fastener elements to the first surface of said web onopposite sides, as viewed in said machine direction, of a region inwhich said cut line is to be formed, wherein each of said first fastenerelements has an outer end adjacent the first side edge and an opposite,inner end located inwardly in the cross direction from the outer end;forming a pair of continuous slits in said web on opposite sides, asviewed in said machine direction, of said region, wherein each of saidcontinuous slits is located between said region and one of said firstfastener elements, and extends continuously in said cross direction froma first end located adjacent the first side edge to a second end locatedinwardly of the inner ends of said first fastener elements but outwardlyof a peripheral edge of said middle opening; attaching a fastener basesheet to said web so that the fastener base sheet extends in saidmachine direction across said region and said slits, wherein thefastener base sheet has thereon a pair of second fastener elements eachreleasably engaged with one of said first fastener elements and isattached to said web through releasable engagement of respective saidsecond fastener elements with respective said first fastener elements;forming first notches in said web so that each of the first notchesextends from the first side edge to the first end of one of said slits,respectively; forming second notches in said web so that each of thesecond notches extends from the peripheral edge of the middle opening tothe second end of one of said slits, respectively; folding said web intwo in said cross direction with said second surface inside so that anarea of said web adjacent the second side edge overlays said region;bonding said area to said fastener base sheet; and after said bonding,severing said web together with said fastener base sheet along said cutline; wherein a peripheral edge of said middle opening intersects theslits in vicinity of the second ends of the slits to define a cut-awaypiece of said web, and said cut-away piece corresponds to said regionand is surrounded by the slits, the notches at the first ends of theslits, and the peripheral edge of said middle opening; said methodfurther comprising: bonding a cut-away piece, which corresponds to saidregion and is surrounded by the slits, the notches at the first andsecond ends of the slits, and the peripheral edge of said middleopening, to the fastener base sheet to retain said cut-away piece;wherein said bonding comprises indirectly bonding said area to thefastener base sheet via said retained cut-away piece.